One of the biggest worries we hear from people thinking about joining WALX Coast and Country is:
“What if I’m too slow and hold everyone up?”
It’s completely understandable. Nobody wants to feel they are the person everyone is waiting for.
It can be even more of a worry when hills are involved. You might be perfectly comfortable walking on the flat but know that you slow down on a climb. So, instead of risking being at the back, you simply don’t book.
But you could be missing out on some fantastic walks unnecessarily.
We have ways of working with different walking speeds
One of the skills of our walk leaders is managing a group with different abilities while keeping everyone together.
We have plenty of ways of giving faster walkers an extra challenge. They might walk ahead and return to the group, take an additional loop, repeat part of a hill or be given another task that allows them to work harder.
In fact, rather than being “held back”, our faster walkers can sometimes end up doing more!
Meanwhile, someone who needs a little more time can walk at a pace that works for them without feeling they are spoiling the walk for everyone else.
The important thing is that we stay together as a group. No one gets left behind.
Stopping isn’t a problem
We are a very social walking group. Nobody minds an occasional stop.
It’s an opportunity to have a drink, catch your breath and, of course, fit in even more chatting!
We also walk in some beautiful places across Sussex. Sometimes it is worth stopping simply to look around and appreciate where we are. Getting from A to B as quickly as possible isn’t always the point.
Choosing the right walk does matter
That doesn’t mean every walk is suitable for everybody.
Our walks are graded to help you choose something appropriate for your current fitness and walking ability. The descriptions also give you information about distance, hills, terrain and the type of walk you can expect.
And we look out for you.
If you book onto a walk and we think it may not be the best choice for you, we’ll have a conversation with you. We would much rather help you find a walk you’ll enjoy than have you struggling on one that isn’t right for you.
As your fitness and confidence grow, you may then find yourself trying walks you wouldn’t have considered when you first joined.
Please don’t let nerves stop you
If you’re new to WALX Coast and Country, or perhaps you haven’t walked with us for a while and are wondering whether you could come back, please don’t miss out simply because you’re worried about being too slow.
You don’t have to work it out on your own.
Call Denise on 01243 908098 or email denise@walxcandc.co.uk and have a chat about where you are now and which sessions might suit you.
There’s probably a walk with your name on it.
It would be a terrible waste to miss some wonderful walks, beautiful countryside and a very friendly group simply because you were nervous about keeping up.